URBANA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The Courier Cafe has closed until further notice after an issue was discovered with the brick facade on the south side of the building, owners announced this week.
In a post shared Wednesday morning, the restaurant said the problem was identified Tuesday and raised concerns about the structural integrity of the historic building. Out of caution, ownership decided to temporarily shut down operations while the issue is evaluated.
“At this time, we do not know the scope and severity of the issue,” the business wrote. “Due to structural concerns and out of an abundance of caution, we made the decision to temporarily close until this issue is resolved.”
The Courier Cafe occupies a landmark building in downtown Urbana that was designed by architect Joseph Royer in 1903. The structure housed The Urbana Courier newspaper for more than 70 years before becoming the home of the longtime restaurant.
In its statement, the cafe emphasized its commitment to preserving the building and its place in the community. “We’re doing our best to preserve the long-standing traditions of The Courier Cafe and this building,” the post said. “There are ‘pain points’ involved with a historic location, but we believe that preserving our local history is important.”
The closure was first announced Tuesday afternoon, when ownership cited unspecified “physical plant issues.” Additional details were provided Wednesday following questions from customers and community members.
No timeline has been announced for reopening.